A Rough Start for 8th Grade

I could tell it was time for school to start because my supply of Ramen noodles, Mac & Cheese, and peanut butter dwindled considerably.  I actually ran out of creamy peanut butter this week--something I am usually abundantly stocked up on (though there are still 3 or 4 jars of crunchy on the shelf...).

Things were off to a good start last Monday.  Lots of papers to read and sign and the like.  Figuring out teacher's homework systems and such.  Dustin is playing on the high school soccer team so had to change his schedule to add soccer for the last class of the day, which meant dropping another class.  His coach voted for seminary (religion class), but we said no to that and instead he dropped pre-calculus (it's okay--he isn't going into engineering).  Brennen changed from percussion to saxophone in the band so we 'enjoyed' hearing the sounds of his first practice sessions.  ("What is that sound Mom?") 

But then Brennen was home sick on Wednesday.  Had a fever.  Tried to go back to school on Thursday but the nurse called me at 11:00 to come and get him.  Fever was back.  A visit to the doctor revealed pneumonia.  Took me by surprise, but okay, we can deal with that.  Got him on antibiotics and scheduled another appointment for Monday. 

However, I didn't know that pneumonia is so hard to fight off.  I assumed he would take antibiotics and be back to school by the begining of the week.  Wrong.  Had a fever Monday (though it was gone most of Saturday and Sunday).  He had developed a pretty bad cough over the weekend.  X-ray showed no improvement.  Oxygen level was down from Friday.  Doctor said he won't be going to school this week.  Drink lots of fluids, if he has trouble breathing, go to the ER.  We have to keep an eye on this.  Come back in two days.  Little more serious this time.

So today I am a little unfocused.  Brennen doesn't seem too sick.  I mean he is tired and laying around but still up and doing stuff too.  And coughing A LOT.  But I am anxious all day.  Not just about his illness but about all the school he is missing--the first two weeks of 8th grade.  And how do you 'take care' of a sick 13 year old? I mean what does he need from me?  (Its not like a little kid who you rock and hold all day).  A lot on my mind.  Just stuff.

And

Andy's progress report for the first week comes home yesterday.  Needs improvement on:  listening to the teacher, focusing, and a bunch of other stuff.  We already know that!  And that he needs to practice his handwriting every night at home.  Yes.  We know he can barely write.  But you see, the teachers love Andy and it will be alright.  It is only the first week.  Yet they say third grade is a hard transition.  Hmmm.  And the homework required is 40 minutes:  10 min math facts, 10 minutes spelling, 20 reading.  And she wants us to do handwriting too?  I realize that doesn't sound like too much for 3rd grade but for Andy and me, it is.
I am anxious about all that too.  (I meant to work on handwriting this summer and I did to some extent.  We did a lot of coloring and story writing at the beginning of the summer, and all through the summer we did crafts that focused on his fine motor skills like making bead animals, and cutting and tearing paper, painting).

I couldn't focus on anything today.  Sort of wondering aimlessly.  I did wash and fold two loads of laundry and I could have folded the third in the dryer, but...
I could have cleaned up the lunch dishes but the dishwasher wasn't unloaded.  I could do a lot of things but I don't really know what those things are...because I couldn't focus.  I was just like in a daze all day.
I played with Cameron.  We built a marble run and did some puzzles.  We read.  Finally I gave in and layed on my bed and fell asleep for about an hour.  Until Cam came in because he was hungry.  And then it was about time for the kids to come home.

But--Hooray Hooray--it is date night!  We are going for an early dinner because there is a band meeting at 6:00 at the high school.  My wonderful hubby and I leave at 4:30 with Brennen in charge (who has a fever of about 100) of the three younger ones knowing Dustin will be home soon from soccer practice.  We enjoy a great dinner at Olive Garden and true to their commercials witness lots of "we are family" in the form of other diners coming in and hugging each other--seriously.  (whatever their slogan is--I don't watch a lot of TV but I know it's something like that)

After dinner, Scott stays home to feed the kids and get them ready for bed and I take Dustin to the band meeting which we find out was rescheduled for next week.  We didn't get that email.  I drop Dustin off at home and head to the preschool open house for Cameron (which I wasn't planning on going to because of the band meeting).  It was nice to get out and meet his teacher who said she loves having him and she actually picked him for her class (ooh, how sweet).  And I talk to the speech pathologist who says he is wonderful and that he is gifted. (ahh).  One day we will be able to understand all his 'gifted' talk. I know I shouldn't look to the future and need to focus on the present, but I just can't believe he is going to leave me next year and go to kindergarten all day! (sniff sniff)

On my way home I stop at the grocery store for a few things, like peanut butter.  Skippy is on sale for $1 if you buy 4.  I was planning on buying 8.  They were all out.  I got a great deal on Kraft ranch dressing though.

After being unfocused all day, it was nice to finally get my head back and enjoy the evening.  And when I got home the little kids were in bed!  Thank you sweet hubby. 

I don't know the moral of this post.  I just keep typing.  But I couldn't sleep so you all get to read this very long post. 

I am most interested and anxious to see what the doctor says tomorrow.

Someone once said...

"School days are the best days of your life--provided your kids are old enough to go"

3 more days . . .